Three objectives underpin the strategy on gender equality in Horizon 2020:
In many topics across the work programme, it is explicitly requested that applicants take into account women as well as men’s needs and behaviours. In addition grant beneficiaries commit to promoting equal opportunities and a balanced participation of women and men at all levels in research and innovation teams and in management structures.
The ‘Science with and for Society’ Work Programme funds specific initiatives in support of the gender equality strategy. Support is given to Research Performing Organisations (RPO) and Research Funding Organisations (RFO) in order to:
Funding is also provided to the development of a common framework to evaluate national initiatives promoting gender equality in research policy. A dedicated campaign aims at encouraging girls to study science and female students to further embrace a career in research. Research will be funded to analyse the impact of gender diversity in research teams on research and innovation performance.
These activities are targeted to researchers and innovators, research organisations, primary, secondary and higher education establishments, science museums, citizens and their associations or groupings, media, policy makers at national, regional and local levels, etc.